Pistachio plant called ‘PETE I’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct pistachio tree named ‘PETE I’, characterized by a very white shell nut with a 90% or higher split ratio and a large nut size (18 to 20 nuts per ounce), nut meat color brilliant purple on the exterior with a dark green interior, a very high resistance to  Botryosphaeria panicle  and shoot blight ( Botryosphaeria dothidea ) fungus, large, dark green leaves and an early bloom.

Botanical classification: Pistacia sp.

Cultivar name: ‘PETE I’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of pistachio tree, propagated from a T-budding sport.

Naturally occurring sports were collected, budded onto existing Pioneer Gold II rootstock, and analyzed for resistance to the fungus Botryosphaeria panicle and shoot blight (Botryosphaeria dothidea). One sport was selected for its high resistance to the fungus and designated ‘PETE I’. The parents of ‘PETE I’ are unknown.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The ‘PETE I’ variety is characterized by a very white shell nut with a 90% or higher split ratio and a large nut size (18 to 20 nuts per ounce). Nut meat color is brilliant purple on the exterior with a dark green interior.

‘PETE I’ is further characterized by a very high resistance to Botryosphaeria panicle and Botryosphaeria dothidea, a major pistachio fungus, when compared to ‘Kerman’, ‘Kalleh Ghoochi’, and other pistachio varieties.

‘PETE I’ has a very upright growth habit. In the pre-harvest years (1 to 6 years), vegetative growth exceeds four feet per year with flower buds appearing in the fourth year. Leaves are deep green in color, compound with three to five, average of three, leaflets. During years 1 to 3, leaflets are noticeably larger, sometimes exceeding six inches in length and width. ‘PETE I’ trees have very dense foliage during the early years, becoming more aerated with maturity.

‘PETE I’ pollinates early compared to ‘Kerman’, typically 5 to 7 days earlier. First flowers are receptive in late March compared to early April for ‘Kerman’. Flowers are consistent in size and conformation, with an inverted Christmas tree appearance. Early pollination gives ‘PETE I’ a competitive advantage over varieties like ‘Kerman’ in that nuts of ‘PETE I’ will be ready for market earlier than those of ‘Kerman’ and other varieties.

Asexual reproduction by budding onto a Pioneer Gold II rootstock at Butte County, Calif. shows that the foregoing and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagation. Other known forms of asexual reproduction for pistachios may also be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The accompanying photographic illustrations show typical specimens of vegetative growth of the new variety, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustration of this character.

FIG. 1 shows an 18 year old pistachio tree of the new variety.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a leaf of the new variety.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of clusters of nuts of the new variety.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up comparison of the leaves and nut clusters of the new variety and ‘Kerman’.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up comparison of nuts of the new variety and ‘Kerman’.

COMPARISON TO ‘KERMAN’

The closest commercial equivalent to ‘PETE I’ of which I am aware is ‘Kerman’. The new variety differs from ‘Kerman’ in the following characteristics:

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘Pete I’ to ‘Kerman’ ‘PETE I’ ‘Kerman’ Nuts White shell with brilliant green White shell with a pale meat. Clusters are spectacular in green meat. Clusters are density (20 to 30 nuts/cluster). less dense (10 to 15 Open - splits 90% or more with nuts/cluster). Open - a high percentage of 20 to 30 splits 75-80% with a nuts/cluster. higher degree of non- splits. Disease High degree of resistance to Very low resistance to Resistance Botryosphaeria panicle and Botryosphaeria panicle Botryosphaeria dothidea. In and Botryosphaeria mature trees, average occurrence dothidea, especially in of botryosphaeria in ‘PETE I’ is areas of heavy rainfall. about 5 strikes/tree, compared to Average occurrence of 100 strikes/tree for ‘Kerman’. Botryosphaeria panicle and Botryosphaeria dothidea in ‘Kerman’ is about 100 strikes/tree, compared to 5 strikes/tree for ‘PETE I’. Growth Upright growth with large, dark Upright growth with Habits green leaves; typically 3 leaflets. average size leaves; Grows 3-4 feet/year with flower usually 5 leaflets. Grows buds appearing in the 4th year. 3-4 feet/year with flower buds appearing in the fifth year. Pollination Blooms in late March through Blooms in early April early April (typically, March 25 (typically March 30 through April 10, in Butte through April 15, in county, California). Butte county, California).

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of pistachio tree, the following is a detailed description of 18 year old plants with color description where indicated by reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, except where common terms of color definition are employed.

The new variety of pistachio tree as herein described may vary in slight detail due to climatic, soil and cultural conditions under which the variety may be grown, the present description being of the variety as grown at Butte County, Calif.

-   Plant:     -   -   Shape.—Symmetric canopy as shown in FIG. 1, about 16 feet in             diameter.         -   Height.—About 17 to 18 feet at maturity.         -   Growing habit.—Before maturity, growth is cane in             appearance, growing approximately 3 to 4 feet per year. At             maturity, growth is 1 to 2 feet per year.         -   Branching habit.—Established trunk with primary scaffolds             starting in about the 40-inch range. Growth is cane-like in             vegetation with smaller fruiting spears.         -   Disease resistance.—High resistance to Botryosphaeria             panicle and Botryosphaeria dothidea fungus. -   Trunk:     -   -   Dimensions.—At union (about 2 feet), diameter 15 inches and             circumference 45 inches.         -   Surface texture.—Rough.         -   Coloration.—Grey-Brown (near 199B) to Grey-Green (near             198B). -   Branching:     -   -   Dimensions.—Approximately 6 to 8 in number; about 4 feet in             length, 6 to 7 inches in diameter at maturity.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth.         -   Lenticel coloration.—White, near 155 B. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Compound, three to five leaflets, with an             average of three, as shown in FIG. 2.         -   Color.—Upper and lower surfaces: green, near 138A.         -   Surface texture.—Upper and lower surfaces: glabrous.         -   Compound leaf dimension.—Length: at maximum about 6 to 8             inches; width: at maximum about 7 to 9 inches.         -   Leaflet size/shape.—Length: about 4 to 6 inches; width:             about 4 to 6 inches; shape oval.         -   Leaflet base.—Broadly cuneate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Obtuse.         -   Leaflet margin.—Entire to slightly repand.         -   Petiole length.—About 4 to 6 inches.         -   Petiole color.—Light yellow-green, near 147C-147D. -   Bloom:     -   -   Form.—Inverted Christmas tree appearance.         -   Borne.—Typically 3 to 7 flowers per lateral stem.         -   Flowering season.—Late March through mid-April.         -   Flower diameter.—Base: about 2 to 3 inches; tip: about             ½-inch.         -   Flower depth.—About 6 inches at the end of bloom.         -   Flower coloration.—Red, near 47A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistil.—Yellow-Green, near 151C-151D.         -   Nuts.—Husk thickness — About 1/16 inches. Shell color — Very             white, near 155C-155D. Size — About ¾ inches wide and about             1.5 inch long on average. Shape — Oval. Surface texture —             Smooth. Number per inflorescence — About 15 to 25. Number             per ounce — About 18 to 20. Pellicle — Red-Purple,             continuously varying across Group 66A-66D. Kernel size —             About ½ inches wide and about 1 inch long on average. Kernel             shape — Oval. Kernel texture — Irregular. Kernel color —             Exterior: brilliant purple, near 61B; interior: dark green,             near 144A-144B. Split ratio — 90% or higher. Kernel flavor —             Subtle, crisp nutty flavor. -   Industrial usage: Nut is hulled, dried, sorted, roasted and salted,     and packaged. -   Keeping & shipping quality: Excellent in absence of excessive     moisture. -   Harvest information: Between August and September when grown in the     California region. 

1. A new and distinct variety of pistachio tree, identified as ‘PETE I’, substantially as shown and described. 